Visual Art

Program Director

Terra Henderson graduated from Emporia State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Art Education. She also received her Masters degree from Emporia State in 2010. Terra has taught at St. James Academy since it’s second year in operation and taught previously for nine years at Maur Hill–Mount Academy, formerly known as Maur Hill Preparatory School in Atchison, Kansas.

Eric Huber                                  Katie Dulek                                 Sheridan Zarda

Course Descriptions

Intro to Drawing: This is a beginning course designed for students who are interested in learning basic drawing skills. They will be presented with the tools necessary to unlock their potential and to develop the way they see objects. They will learn to draw highly recognizable images of any subject matter through the perception of edges, spaces, relationships, lights and shadows, and the perception of the whole.

Advanced Drawing: (Prerequisite is Intro to Drawing) Students will continue their development and refinement of perceptual abilities through the use of line, proportion, and shading in various drawing media, such as charcoal, pastels, pen and ink, colored pencil, etc. They will also explore a variety of subject matter, including portraits, perspective, still life and landscape. Work will be done from both photos and real life.

Ceramics: This course will explore various hand-building methods as well as the pottery wheel to construct ceramic works. Students will be educated in the drying stages of clay and glazing methods and they will learn about creating both functional and non-functional objects.

Advanced Art: This is an advanced level course for students wishing to continue growth in art. After an overview is taken, the instructor will select a number of projects that will be required before allowing the students to advance in their own directions. Students will contract with the instructor regarding what types of projects he/she will do. Students who are pursing art as a career will use this class to develop his/her portfolio.

It is expected that these students are motivated in art inspired to create.

Advanced Ceramics: This course will build upon the methods and techniques learned in Ceramics to create a variety of sculpture and functional pottery. More emphasis will be placed on design quality and demonstrating his/her own personal style and originality.

Design: This course will use the elements and principles of art in the fields of drawing, painting and sculpture. They will become familiar with the language of art and visual vocabulary necessary to create successful works of art and more meaningful compositions. This class helps students gain a greater appreciation and understanding for art in the world around him/her.

Painting: This course will explore a variety of painting mediums such as watercolor, tempera, acrylic, and oil painting. Students will learn about various historical time periods in painting and artist styles developed throughout history.

Eric Huber - The Word Made Flesh - 2010